Furnace wall construction



A. G. LAMBERT FURNACE WALL CONSTRUCTI'ON March 25, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet lFiled June 12. 1953 INVENTR. /ME G. LAMBERT vBY HTTOENE YS A. G. LAMBERTFURNACE.' WALL CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. IME G. LAMBEQTHTTORNEYS March 25, 1958 Filed June l2, 1955 March 25, 1958 A. G.LAMBERT 2,827,784

FURNACE WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed June l2. 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTR./ME G. LAMBERT TT PNEYS FURNACE WALL CNSTRUCTIUN Aim G. Lambert,Woluwe-StfPierre, Brussels, Belgium Application .lune 12, 1953, SerialNo. 361,389

7 Claims. (Cl. 72-11) rThe present invention relates to improvements tofurnace walls for use in furnaces adopted for high temperatureoperation, and in particular to walls of the type formed of a number oftiers of elements suspended from external horizontal frameworks.

It is well known that such walls for use in high temperature furnacesexpand and contract in relation to the temperature of the walls.

ln known walls of this type, whose tiers have a height of about 80 to 90centimeters, the vertical expansion occurs easily by the aid of asbestosjoints provided between adjacent tiers. The expansion in a horizontaldirection can take place through the intermediary of asbestos tillers orpackings provided at the ends of the walls. However, the refractoryelements suspended from the horizontal frameworks, through theintermediary of suspension or hook-on parts, are not able, in expanding,to carry these parts along with them, so that the connecting elements,such as tenons, between the said refractory elements and the suspensionparts become fractured, which lessens the stability of the masonry.

t is true that it has already been proposed that the furnace walls beprovided at places with vertical joints intended to absorb thehorizontal expansions. These vertical joints, however, have thedisadvantage of disintegrating after a certain time, so that thetightness of the walls is impaired.

ln order to avoid this drawback, a layer of fire-proof material is oftenapplied to the face of the wall not exposed to the tire; but in thiscase, because of the great heat conductivity of the interior refractoryelements as compared with that of the external insulating layer, thesuspension parts are brought to a very high temperature, and, in orderto be capable of resisting this high temperature, must be made of castiron or steel especially adapted for use at high temperatures. Theinsulating layer, moreover, deteriorates by becoming cracked anddislocated. As to the suspension parts, they transmit the heat whichthey collect, and, being connected by the refractory elements of thewalls to the above-mentioned external frameworks, this produces greatloss of heat and an unallowable excess heating of the said frameworks.

The present invention has for its object combinations by the aid ofwhich the above-mentioned drawbacks of the known combinations areavoided, and they are replaced by advantages such as those consisting ofsecuring 'reedom for both horizontal and vertical expansion of thefurnace walls, without risk of rupturing the parts for suspending thestacked refractoryfelements; of avoiding contact between the refractoryelements (which are in operation brought to high temperatures) and theframeworks from which these elements are suspended through theintermediary of suspension parts; of securing tightness f the wallswhile eliminating the vertical expansion joints normally provided inthese walls; and of securing the restoration to position of the elementsconstituting the furnace walls following a horizontal expansion of thesewalls.

Pursuant to the invention, in a furnace wall formed of $27,784 PatentedMar. 25, 1958 a number of tiers each comprising stacked refractoryelements suspended from horizontal frameworks, the said refractoryelements of the same stacks are fastened to a block cast from insulatingor refractory material, which is itself suspended, through theintermediary of at least one plate made of a fire-proof material ofgreat strength mechanically, from a hook-on part provided with a rollingdevice resting upon one of the aforementioned horizontal frameworks.

In accordance with one characteristic of the invention, the plate forsuspending the aforementioned blocks from the hook-on parts isadvantageously constructed of a material having a large content ofasbestos, and is molded integrally with the said block in the vicinityof the end of this block, near the framework from which the block issuspended. This plate, in accordance with another characteristic of theinvention, may extend as far as the vicinity of the opposite end of theblock in which it is partly embedded, in such a manner as to bearagainst the subjacent framework, which prevents warping of the block inquestion. Instead of providing a single plate extending approximatelyfrom the upper end to the lower end of the block, it is possible toprovide two separate plates, one of which, disposed in the vicinity ofthe upper end of the block, serves as an insulating connection betweenthis block and the hook-on part, and the other of which, embedded orsocketed in the block in the vicinity of the lower end of this block,serves as a suspending and insulating element, bearing against theframework situated below that framework from which the block in questionis suspended.

ln accordance with the invention, the hook-on parts have the generalshape of an L, the horizontal leg of which has at its outer end anupwardly directed beak or projection engaged in a recess formed in thelower edge of the insulating suspension plate. The L-shaped hookon partpreferably has, parallel with its horizontal web, a branch that is lixedor movable, which also has, at its outer end, a downwardly directedprojection engaged in a recess formed in the upper edge of thesuspension plate. in order to prevent this suspension plate frombecoming accidentally detached from the hook-on part, there ispreferably provided a detachable device which may for example beconstituted by a dowel pin attached in a removable manner to thehorizontal web of the hook-on part and to the horizontal branch carriedby the vertical web of this part. instead of this dowel pin, it ispossible to provide vertical ilanges integral with one and/or the otherof the horizontal portions of the hook-on part. Thus, these flanges maybe provided at the ends of one of the flanges of an -shaped prole, whoseweb is approximately parallel with the horizontal web of the L- shapedhook-on nart and passes through a longitudinal slot formed in thevertical web of the hook-on part, the other ilange of the -shapedprofile bearing against the vertical web of the hook-on part.

As to the rolling device connected to the hook-on parts: it may beconstituted in accordance with the invention by at least one rollercarried by a journal passing freely through an opening formed at theupper outer end of the hook-on part, this roller resting upon a railwhich constitutes a horizontal frame of the furnace wal The roller inquestion may roll either on a horizontal iiange of the said rail, or ona vertical ilange oi' it.

The connection between the stacked refractory elements and the moldedblock set back-to-back with them may be eected by a dovetail joint, bymortise and tenori, or by an analogous arrangement, in such a way as tomake the refractory elements integral witn the said block, in ahorizontal direction at least; and this block may required be reinforcedby the aid of one or more plates, peorated if desired, made of aninsulating material which has great mechanical resistance to hightemperatures.

furnace, at the level of each tier, at least .one spring bear-l ingagainst an external'sheathing ofthe furnace, and vserving Vto restoreVthe constituent elements of the wall to their original position afterhorizontal expansion of this wall. In'such a furnace each wallpreferably bears at one end against another wall, and is subjected atits other end to the action of springs, the arrangement beingadvantageously such, in the case in which the'furnace is rectangular,that a series of springs, alternately perpendicular to one another, areprovided in two diagonally opposite corners of the furnace.Y Y Y Othercharacteristics and details ofthe invention will appear in the courseofthe following description Yof the drawings annexed to the presentapplication, which drawings illustrate schematicaily, and merely by wayof example, some ways of constructing furnace vwalls and furnaces inaccordance with the invention.

ln these drawings: Y

Fig. l is a partial vertical section of a fragment of a furnace wall inaccordance with the invention.

Fig'. 2 is a section along line lI-II of Fig. Y1.

Fig. 3 is a section along line Ill-Ill of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section of a furnace Wall in accordancewith the invention, illustrating a kmethod of construction, differentfrom that of Fig. l, for the hookon parts having a roller in accordancewith the invention; this view also showing the possible way ofreinforcing the connection block between the refractory elements and thesuspension plates.

Fig. 5 shows in perspective a detail of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is, to a small scale, a schematic `plan view of the walls of arectangular furnace in Vaccordance with .the invention.

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section of the furnace wall and supportingblock construction of 1a tier of a furnace wall in accordance with theinvention, illustrating a method of construction, different from that ofFig. l or Fig. 4, for the refractory bricks are fastened to the block bythe aid of a mortise and tenon joint, each refractory brick beingindividually Land independently so fconnected.

In these different figures the same reference characters indicateidentical elements.

In Fig. l, a furnace wall is `indicated by the general referencecharacter 2. This wall is composed of a number Vof tiers 3, 3' and 3",each comprising stacks of refractory elements or bricks 4, fastened to ablock 5, obtained by molding or casting a low-density insulating andrefractory material, such as a compound having a refractory cement forits base.

The refractory bricks 4 are fastened to the block 5 by the aidofafdovetail joint, as is shown ato and 6' in Fig. 2. lnsteadV of such ajoint, itis possible to use a mortise and tenon, as shown at vd" in Fig.7. t Any other analogousV arrangement may be employed the purpose aimedat being merely .to attach the juxtaposed stacks of bricks 4 to thebacking blocks 5. Above each stack of bricks 4 there is provided allerelement or brick 7.V This filler element 7 may be easily removed, forexample, when it is desired to take apart a stack of bricks 4, forexample, for the purpose of replacing a broken brick in this stack.After removal ofthe refractory ller element 7 situated above the stack4that is to be taken apart, the bricks 4 may be withdrawn one by one bysliding them upward along the projecting dovetail 6 ofthe block 5.

1n korder-to prevent the stacks or bricks 4 from falling during theremoval of the filler refractory Velement 7, disposed-wat the bottom ofthese stacks'and separating such a stack from a subjacent stack, thereis provided at the lower end 8 of the block 5 a base shoulder 9 whichacts as a retaining stop for the lower brick l10 of each stack. Thisbrick 10 is of a special shape, Vin that it comprises, for a portion ofits height and running from Aits .upper end, a dovetail groove 6'; whilefor a portion of its jheight,

. 4 running from its lower end, it is of reduced section as is shown at11 (see Fig. 3). f

Behind the filler elements 7 there is provided a layer 12 oftire-resisting or insulating material, at the level of the horizontalframeworks which will be mentioned further on in this application.

into the blocks 5 or" insulating and refractory material i there arepartly embedded: Von the one hand and in the vicinity of their upper'end 13, a suspc'nsion'plate 14; and, on the other hand and in thevicinity of their lower end 8, a slider plate 15. These plates 14 and 15`are both made of Vtire-proof materialwhich has great'r'esistancemechanically to high temperatures. As is shown by Figs. 1 and 2, theplates 14 and 15 are grooved at 16 and have holes 17.

These grooves and these holes serve to secure a good attachment of thesaid plates into'the molded or cast material of the .blocks 5. As mayalso be seen, ,the plates 14 and 1S, which are embedded and fastenedinto the blocks S, project from the rear` face 18 of these blocks.

The suspension plate 14 Vis mounted in a hook-on part which is indicatedin a general way by the reference character 19. This Yhook-0n part maybe made of .cast iron, Vbecause it is separated from'the block 5 andfrom the stacked refractory elements in front of this block by thesuspension plate A14 Vmade of an insulating material, so that -it isalmost impossible to produce a .transmission of heat Vto the saidhook-on part 19.

This hook-on part has approximately the shape of an L whose horizontalleg 20 ends in a projection 21 which is directed upwardly and engages inarecess'Z formed in the lower edge ofthe suspension plate 14. Thevertical leg or web 23 `,of the hook-on part carries a yhorizontal arm24, similar yto the horizontal web 29, and ending in a projection 25which vis directed downwardly and .engages in a recess 26 provided linthe upper edge of the suspension plate. In order to prevent the plate 14from becoming accidentally detached from the hookon part 19, there ispreferably provided a retaining pin or stirrup 27, which tits on thehorizontal web 2t) and on the horizontal web 24 of the said hook-onpart.

t At its upper end the hook-on part has passing through it freely ajournal or axle 28 carrying two rollers V'29, each of which rests upon ahorizontal web 30 `of a rail which is designated as a whole bythereferencecharacter 31. This rail, which constitutes one of thehorizontal framesof the furnace wall, is fastened by bolts 32 to i theuprights 33.

By the aid kof. the roller device, constituted by V.the rollers 29, fromwhich the stacks of bricks y4 of each tier of the furnace wall aresuspended through the intermediary of the blocks 5, the suspensionplates 14 and the hook-on parts `,19, horizontal expansion of the wallcan take place without difliculty and without risk of damaging orrupturing the hook-on parts. In addition, these latterparts areperfectly sheltered from the heat, to the point that there is -no reasonto fear jamming -tof the i rollers A29.

formed in the vertical web 23 ofthe hook-on part. `AtV one end, this arm36 carries a head 38 analogous -to a hammer head, while at its other endit carries a projection 39, which is directed ,downwardly Vand engagesinV the recess ,25 formedtin Vthejupper ledge of the suspension plate:14. In addition. Ythe hcrizcntalarm 36 .cares between its two ends, twovertical side-plates 40, between which is inserted the upper part of thesuspension plate, these side-plates 48 preventing the suspension plate14 from becoming accidentally detached from the hookon part 19.

The setting into position or' the detachable horizontal arm 36 is doneas follows (see Fig. 5): After having engaged the head 38 through thewide part 41 of the slot 37, this arm is allowed to slide downward intothe narrow part 42 of this slot, until the projection 39 becomes engagedin the recess 26 of the suspension plate 14. At this moment this plateis firmly attached to the hook-on part by the aid of the engagement ofthe projection 39 in the recess 26 and the insertion of the platebetween the side-plates 49.

In Fig. 4 we also see that the block 5 is reinforced by the aid of aperforated plate 43 fastened to the suspension plate 14 and the sliderplate 15, this latter bearing against the frame 35 situated below thatframe from which the block under consideration is suspended.

Finally, Fig. 6 shows schematically a furnace of rectangular shape,whose walls 58, 51, 52 and 53 are preferably constructed in the mannerdescribed above. The walls 50 and 51 bear against one another at 54, andthe walls 52 and S3 at 55. At the two opposite corners 56 and S7 of thefurnace, in spaces provided between the ends of the walls and theexternal sheathing 58 of the furnace, there is provided a series ofsprings 59 and 69, alternately perpendicular to one another. Thesesprings, which are guided on the stationary rods 61, are provided at therate of at least one spring per tier of each of the two walls abuttingat the corners 56 and 57. These springs serve to restore the elements,of which the walls 5t? to 53 are constituted, to their original positionduring the contraction of these walls following an expansion in ahorizontal direction.

lt is evident that the invention is not limited exclusively to the formsof construction and to the details described above, and that manymodifications may be made to the arrangement, constitution and form ofcertain elements used in the realization, provided that thesemodifications are not in contradiction with the object of the claimsterminating the present application.

Thus it is self-evident that it is possible to give the hook-on partsforms other than those described above, and the same thing moreoverapplies to the refractory bricks, the molded or cast blocks, andsuspension plates.

What is claimed is:

1. A furnace wall comprising a plurality of tiers of insulating andrefractory carrier blocks, refractory elements carried thereby, asupporting frame including a horizontal rail for each tier, and meansfor suspending carrier blocks of each tier from one of said rails, eachof said suspending means comprising a carriage having rollers movablealong one of said rails and a suspension member supported by saidcarriage and having a portion engaging -a carrier block to support theweight thereof, and a plate of non-metallic insulating re proof materialprojecting from one of said blocks and carried by said suspensionmember.

2. A furnace wall comprising a plurality of tiers of insulating andrefractory carrier blocks, refractory elements carried thereby, asupporting frame including a horizontal rail for each tier, and meansfor suspending carrier blocks of each tier from one of said rails, eachof said suspending means comprising a carriage having roller meansmovable along one of said rails and a hooklike suspension member, and aplate of non-metallic, insulating lireproof material projecting from oneof said blocks and carried by said suspension member.

3. A furnace wall constructed as described in claim 2 wherein a secondplate of tire proof material is fastened to each tier and bears againstthe frame to prevent tilting of the tier.

4. A furnace wall construction comprising a stationary framework havinglongitudinally extending trackways secured thereto, a tiered refractoryblock Wall in substantially parallel relationship to said framework,said refractory wall including carrier blocks of insulating refractorymaterial having integral means on one face lthereof adapted to supportfue bricks, each carrier block having a plate of insulating refractorymaterial embedded therein and projecting from the other face thereof,said plates having a recess in the lower edge thereof, a plurality ofsubstantially L-shaped metallic support members, each support memberincluding a vertical web "and an angularly extending leg, the upper endof each member having a roller attached thereto, said rollers engagingsaid trackways and being adapted to move therealong, the leg of eachsupport member having an upwardly projecting lip thereon engaging therecess in said plate, whereby each tier of said wall is movablysuspended from a t-rackway and is free to expand in a direction parallelto the axes of said trackways.

5. A furnace wall construction as described in claim 4 wherein eachsupport member further includes a locking lug having a downwardlyprojecting lip in spaced relation to said upwardly projecting lip, saidlug being rigidly joined to the vertical web of said support member, theupwardly and downwardly projecting lip engaging the edges of said platesand securing same to said trackways.

6. A furnace wall construction as described in claim 4 wherein eachsupport member further includes a locking lug having a downwardlyprojecting lip in spaced relation to said upwardly projecting lip, saidlug being slidably attached to the vertical web of said support memberwhereby said lug maybe slidably engaged therewith and disengagedtherefrom, the upwardly and downwardly .projecting lips engaging theedges of said plates and securing the same to said trackways.

7. A furnace wall construction comprising a stationary framework havinglongitudinally extending trackways secured thereto, a tiered refractoryblock wall in substantially parallel relationship to said framework,said refractory wall including carrier blocks of insulating refractorymaterial having integral means on one face thereof adapted to supportlire bricks, each carrier block having a plate of insulating refractorymaterial embedded therein and projecting from the other face thereof,said plates having a recess in the lower edge thereof, a plurality ofsubstantially L-shaped metallic support members, each 4support memberincluding a vertical web and an angularly extending leg, the upper endof each member having a plurality of rollers attached thereto with theaxes thereof disposed in a horizontal position and parallel to eachother, said rollers engaging said trackways and being adapted to movetherealong, the leg of each support member having an upwardly projectinglip thereon engaging the recess in said plate, whereby each tier of saidwall is movably suspended from a trackway and is free to expand in adirection perpendicular to the axes of said rollers.

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